Rep. Bianca Virnig

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new advisory bodies in Minnesota to oversee the modernization of state human services information technology systems used by counties, Indian Tribes, and state agencies. It establishes a dedicated fund that automatically receives money from the general budget whenever the state has a financial surplus, ensuring resources are available for updating these digital systems. The newly formed councils will meet regularly to provide recommendations on how to improve, integrate, and replace existing technology while considering the needs of providers and the public. Additionally, the legislation requires these groups to report their findings to the legislature and mandates that any necessary funding transfers be completed by a specific deadline each year.

Maddy summaryHF 744 modifies professional development requirements under Minnesota's Read Act by setting new deadlines for educators to complete evidence-based literacy training. It requires K-3 classroom teachers, reading intervention staff, special education teachers, and others to complete training by July 1, 2026, with additional training for grades 4-12 teachers by July 1, 2027. School districts can reduce elementary school instructional hours by 5.5 hours per year if they schedule this training during regular school days, provided teachers complete the required training. The bill directly affects Minnesota public school districts, their teachers, and instructional staff implementing the state's literacy initiative.

Maddy summarySF 476 expands Minnesota's medical assistance program to cover "care evaluations" - face-to-face assessments to develop or update home care plans (excluding personal care). It modifies payment rates for homemaker services, home health agencies, and home care nursing. The bill directly affects home care recipients (including seniors and people with disabilities) and the providers delivering these services. Key changes include adding care evaluations to covered services and requiring county public health nurses to conduct certain assessments and updates. All provisions take effect January 1, 2026, or after federal approval.

Maddy summarySF 856 creates an independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in Minnesota to oversee state agencies and programs. The OIG will conduct audits and investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds, report findings publicly, and make recommendations for improvement. It requires the OIG to operate separately from executive agencies, with a qualified director appointed by an advisory council, and mandates annual public reports. The bill appropriates funding for the OIG and takes effect January 1, 2026. This directly affects all state agencies, programs, and entities receiving public funds by subjecting them to independent oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill introduces new regulations in Minnesota to restrict the ownership and sale of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, while also banning the sale of binary trigger systems. It expands criminal penalties for possessing dangerous weapons in schools and for negligently storing firearms, and it specifically criminalizes the manufacture and sale of untraceable "ghost guns." Additionally, the legislation strengthens the state's extreme risk protection order system, requires law enforcement to report firearm discharges more comprehensively, and allocates funding to support public awareness campaigns and mental health services.

Maddy summaryHF 3335 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment, removing the current exception in Minnesota's constitution that allows it for convicted criminals. The amendment would require voter approval at the 2026 general election, with the ballot question asking: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment for a crime?" If passed, it would ban forced labor as a penalty for any crime, affecting Minnesota's criminal sentencing laws. This change would eliminate a historical loophole in the state constitution that permits involuntary servitude as punishment for offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the state, counties, or municipalities in Minnesota to use eminent domain to take property owned by public utilities or electric cooperatives. It clarifies that while these entities can acquire the physical property, they cannot immediately gain the right to provide electric service during the legal process. The law also specifies that compensation paid to the utility must include the original cost of the property adjusted for depreciation, lost revenue, and other related expenses. This change directly affects government bodies planning infrastructure projects and the utility companies that might have their land taken for those purposes.

Maddy summaryHF 4980 modifies how Minnesota calculates and distributes compensatory education funding for school buildings in fiscal years 2027 and 2028. The bill changes the revenue formula to be based on the number of compensatory pupils rather than a fixed allowance per pupil and introduces a minimum funding floor for the 2027 school year. It also increases the percentage of funds school districts can reallocate to specific sites from 20 percent to 40 percent for these two years. Finally, the legislation appropriates money from the general fund to the commissioner of education to support these changes.

Maddy summaryHF 2380 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in services, programs, or activities receiving state funding in Minnesota. It directly affects public and private entities (like schools, hospitals, and businesses) that receive state money. The bill requires these entities to provide reasonable accommodations and bans exclusion or denial of benefits due to disability. It also specifically prohibits businesses from banning service animals or charging extra fees for them, defining "disability" broadly to include conditions substantially limiting major life activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates thermal energy networks as public improvements and waterworks, allowing municipalities in Minnesota to acquire, construct, and maintain these systems alongside existing utilities like water and sewer infrastructure. The legislation amends state statutes to explicitly include thermal energy networks in the list of authorized municipal projects, enabling local governments to build and operate district heating systems as part of their public works responsibilities. By reclassifying these networks under existing legal frameworks for waterworks and public improvements, the bill provides municipalities with the authority to plan, fund, and manage thermal energy distribution without requiring new legislative approvals for each project.